China / Beijing

Dim Sum

Introducing the Dim Sum (Dian Xin)

Dim Sum is a style of Cantonese food prepared as small bite-sized or individual portions of food, traditionally served in small steamer baskets or on small plates. Dim sum is also well known for the unique way it is served in some restaurants, whereby fully cooked and ready-to-serve dim sum dishes are carted around the restaurant for customers to choose their orders while seated at their tables. Dim sum is usually linked with the older tradition from tea tasting, which has its roots in travelers on the ancient Silk Road needing a place to rest. Thus teahouses were established along the roadside. An imperial physician in the third century wrote that combining tea with food would lead to excessive weight gain. People later discovered that tea can aid in digestion, so teahouse owners began adding various snacks. More traditional dim sum restaurants typically serve dim sum until mid-afternoon. However, in modern society it has become common place for restaurants to serve dim sum at dinner time. There are several famous dim sum restaurants in Beijing with reasonable prices like Jindingxuan and Dingtaifeng.

Famous Dim Sum Restaurant In Beijing

Din Tai Fung

Din Tai Fung, based in Chinese Taipei, is a world-famous restaurant chain with a history of over 40 years, specializing in a variety of steamed dumplings (Xiaolongbao) along with noodles and home style dishes. It was originally founded as a cooking oil firm in 1958 by Mr. Yang Bingyi, who came to Taiwan from China mainland in 1948. And in 1972, Din Tai Fung was reborn as a restaurant. Din Tai Fung Dumpling House focused on achieving steady improvement in quality and in service level. The restaurant was winning rave reviews from all over the world. Today not only does Din Tai Fung remains popular with ordinary consumers, a visit to the restaurant is also a must for foreign and domestic tourists, and for international celebrities. It was named among Top Ten Gourmet Restaurants by New York Times in 1993 and its Hong Kong branch awarded as One Star Restaurant of Michelin Guide Hong Kong Macau 2010. And now there are multiple branches in Japan, US, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau and China mainland.

Jin Ding Xuan

Established in 1993, Jindingxuan is one of the famous catering brands and the most popular Dim Sum restaurant in Beijing. It is also the first restaurant in Beijing that started to run for 24 hours. There are 31 branches of Jindingxuan in Beijing, but the most well-known flagship one is just nearby the Lama Temple and Temple of Earth. Around the restaurant public transports are available, such as subway, bus and taxi. Both its magnificent antique architectural style and orthodox tasty Cantonese dishes are highly praised by diners. At early time of its establishment, Jindingxuan only served Cantonese dishes and Dim Sum. Later Sichuan, Shandong and Huiyang dishes were also added into the menu to cater people of various tastes. Without doubt, Cantonese dishes, mainly home style dishes, are the signature dishes here with over 100 kinds of Dim Sum.

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